Principal Investigators


Jacobs Howard

Institution


University of Tampere

Contact information of lead PI


Country


Finland

Title of project or programme


Centre of Excellence in Research on Mitochondria, Metabolism and Disease (FinMIT)

Source of funding information


Academy of Finland

Total sum awarded (Euro)


€ 4,003,485

Start date of award


01/01/2014

Total duration of award in years


3.0

The project/programme is most relevant to:


Neurodegenerative disease in general|Parkinson's disease & PD-related disorders

Keywords


Research Abstract


Dysfunction of mitochondria, our cells’ power supply, underlies a variety of diseases, including Parkinson’s Disease, deafness and various types of muscle and brain disease. Its role in acquired traits such as obesity is also increasingly recognized. FinMIT aims to understand the detailed molecular defects that cause mitochondrial diseases, focusing especially on neurodegeneration and obesity. We combine leading international expertise and tools from basic biology and medicine, to determine how mitochondrial failure disturbs cell function and the systems of chemical communication between different organs of the body. We aim to develop novel means of diagnosis and treatment, based on 1/ nutritional modification, 2/ new drugs designed to restore metabolic balance and 3/ the introduction of a metabolic by-pass to reconfigure the cell’s bioenergy system. This will benefit adults and children suffering from these typically progressive, devastating and currently incurable diseases.

Lay Summary


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